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Majors 44 Programs

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Explore media and tools that give life to visual stories, characters, and environments. Develop your own distinctive style and voice. And, gain the professional know-how for careers in film, TV, game design, and beyond.

Create films that challenge conventional thinking, inspire action, or elicit emotion. With a strong foundation in technical skills—cinematography, sound design, lighting, and editing—turn your vision into a story that can be produced and distributed.

Explore across media as you investigate the full scope of the visual arts. Divide your time between classrooms and studios where you’ll not only draw, paint, sculpt, and explore printmaking, but also read, write, and conduct research.

From visual narratives to character design, concept and editorial art, product and surface design, a bachelor’s degree in illustration offers you the possibility to create work that engages and excites.

In this self-designed BFA program, you’ll be free to pursue as many artistic disciplines as you like. You’ll develop a core skill set in any medium you choose, and expand your practice as you explore diverse forms of visual art.

Explore traditional and new media in commercial studio, documentary, photojournalism, and fine art photography. Forge your own voice in the creative process as you learn to craft a photo from initial concept to final image.

Bachelor of Arts

Study theory and history of the visual arts while creating your own from many different forms of media. Ideal for students who also want to take on a second major as there are fewer credits and studio requirements.

Investigate the natural processes and life cycles of plants and animals. Explore the world through its complex systems and see how all life is connected. Take the first steps toward a career in education, public and community health, science writing, and more.

Discover how race and ethnicity, gender, class, and culture shape families and communities and affect children’s learning and growth. Gain hands-on experiences and insights that prepare you to be an advocate for youth and families in need.

Whether you choose to focus on fiction, nonfiction, poetry, script writing, or writing for children and young adults, as a creative writing major at Lesley you’ll gain the tools, support, and experience to bring your vision to the world.

Guide children’s playfulness and creativity as you discover cutting-edge approaches to teaching children in pre-kindergarten through second grade. Encourage their earliest stages of learning and development and help set a solid foundation for success in school.

Explore the most significant writers and works from American, European, and world literature. Tackle big questions about the human experience. Hone writing and communication skills that translate to success in a wide range of careers.

Discover a multidisciplinary approach to addressing environmental problems. Understand human effects on the environment by studying not only the sciences, but also philosophy, history, politics, and culture.

Explore how people and nations are connected. Work toward solutions to global issues, such as immigration, trade, and climate change. Transform your fascination with the world into a career in international business, law, education, and more.

Create a personalized plan of study based on your specific interests and chosen professional path. You can choose from areas of focus that prepare you for the job you want, including developmental psychology, human services, business management, and more. Through your chosen coursework, you’ll learn skills that make sense for where you want your career to take you.

Earn your Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) in liberal studies with a completely customizable area of study. This is a perfect opportunity to design a program of coursework that is specific to your background or individual goals.

Examine real-world problems with an analytical eye and take action. Use math as a lens to examine global issues. Participate in important research with expert faculty. Gain skills for careers in computer science, data management, education, and more.

Capture the imagination and attention of students in grades 5-8. Become an expert on the adolescent mind. And gain the skills and experience to engage this challenging age group with confidence and creativity.

Gain an understanding of how government policies are made and carried out. Analyze different types of governments and their impacts on citizens. Prepare for a rewarding career in business, law, education, government, or communications.

Inspire high school and middle school students to discover their strengths and passions. Guide them in building a foundation for successful learning and future careers. And gain confidence in your knowledge and skills as a teacher.

Focus on society and the factors that define our place in it. Explore how individuals and groups are affected by race, class, gender, sexuality, and age. And gain the skills for a career in public health, community organizing, advocacy, and more.

Discover how to make education accessible and engaging for PreK–8 students who have diverse learning styles and needs. Gain the skills you need to become a confident, inclusive, and empathetic teacher.

Bachelor of Science

Grow as an artist and help others use their own creativity as a path to wellness. Our art therapy bachelor's degree program gives you the tools to improve people's abilities to cope, heal, understand, and relate to others.

Channel your curiosity about living into a career focused on healthcare and research. Graduate with the skills needed to continue onto medical, dental, or veterinary school, and a range of science-related professions.

Gain the business skills you need to think strategically, identify challenges, offer creative solutions, and lead others. Build your resume with work experience in some of the best places to work in Greater Boston—a hub for tech start-ups.

Turn your associate’s degree into a bachelor’s degree through Lesley University in just two years. All courses are taught by Lesley faculty at the Bunker Hill Community College campus in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

Lesley’s online Bachelor of Science in Business Management prepares you for the challenges of the modern workplace. You’ll learn to become an effective manager as you study the latest leadership approaches. Our curriculum features coursework in economics, organizational behavior, technology, and more so that you have the skills you need to solve problems ethically and creatively. This degree also features specialization options in marketing and non-profit management, allowing you to choose a path of study that’s most relevant to your career goals.

Develop the listening and people skills to counsel others. Build your understanding of human development, psychology, and relationships. Gain the confidence to work with children and adults in schools, communities, and social service agencies.

The online Bachelor of Science in Design for User Experience program teaches you to create intuitive design experiences across products, services, and systems. Our hands-on curriculum is grounded in graphic design principles and puts people at the center of the design process. Through interdisciplinary, collaborative coursework, you can learn design skills to build out websites, mobile applications, product interfaces, and more. You’ll graduate with a portfolio that highlights what you’ve learned and shows employers what you can do.

Take courses at the Bunker Hill Community College campus and complete your bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Studies through Lesley University. To be eligible, you must have completed an associate’s degree.

Prepare for a career working with young children or enhance your current teaching with our bachelor’s degree completion program. Specialize in infants and toddlers, children with special needs, preschool, or integrated teaching through the arts.

Discover how to engage people in creative processes that can free them from mental and emotional problems. Gain an understanding of the professional skills needed to guide others toward health and healing.

With a human services career, you can become a powerful influence for positive change, helping children, adolescents, and adults access the assistance and resources they need. Make a difference in your community with the online BS in Human Services from Lesley University.

Minors 43 Programs

Minor

Learn how to develop a brand identity that stands out in the marketplace and in the minds of consumers. With a focus on brand design, you’ll explore visual branding, the language of design, and creative campaign concepts. Combined with your study of marketing, you’ll discover what it takes to present on-brand messaging to the right people at the right time and in the right place.

Gain a solid foundation in the conceptual and technical aspects of animation and motion media art. Learn from a variety of processes, including stop-motion, 3D animation, and traditional figure drawing.

Discover how to use art techniques, like painting, drawing, and sculpture, when working with adults and children. You’ll learn how to help those who are unable to express their thoughts with words or prefer to use art to express their experiences.

Strengthen your writing talents while exploring different literary genres in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and more. You’ll also study and analyze other works that will help you expand your creativity as a writer.

Explore the history of dramatic literature and develop skills in performance and stage production. Course topics include voice and acting, movement and improvisation, and directing and stage management.

If you want to add teaching to your studies, but you’re unsure about working in a classroom, then a minor in education is ideal. You can test out different career paths in education without having to commit to a full-time degree in the field.

Discover what it takes to make your vision happen. As an Entrepreneurship minor, you’ll gain the tools to put your business ideas into action. Develop strategies for researching your competition and the marketplace. Explore methods for financing your venture, pitching your ideas to investors, and marketing your products and services to consumers.

Create your own minor in one of six foreign languages: French, Italian, German, Mandarin, Portuguese, or American Sign Language (ASL). You’ll build an in-demand professional skill set as you design your own course of study.

Study the global processes that link politics, economics, culture, society, and the environment. You’ll develop the knowledge and tools needed to make sense of and shape the world as a citizen and future global leader.

Gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the past through the study of a wide range of topics and time periods. You’ll also learn a variety of research skills that will enhance your other studies and potential career paths.

Do you have the skills to lead in today’s global marketplace? Through real-world scenarios, international trips, and hands-on internships, our International Business specialization prepares you for managing a diverse, multicultural workforce. Competency in two languages is required to pursue this minor.

If you’re a Global Studies major who is interested in teaching English as a second language in international settings, then this is the minor for you. You’ll study the process of acquiring a second language and develop culturally responsive learning strategies.

Expand your understanding and appreciation of literature through the study of a wide range of works. Courses cover material from the ancient world to the Renaissance, as well as from the 17th century to present day.

Develop your ability to apply mathematics and quantitative thinking when analyzing problems, making decisions, predicting outcomes, and verifying results. You’ll take core classes in statistics and calculus, and choose from a variety of electives.

Launch your career in the nonprofit world. Get an in-depth look at the unique challenges that these organizations face, and learn how to assess organizational effectiveness from multiple perspectives. As you learn how lead in a broad range of nonprofit environments, you’ll build expertise in ethics and responsibility, fundraising and philanthropy, financial management, marketing, and more.

Explore traditional and digital photography techniques as you work with different media, like collage and sculpture. You can also choose to focus on specific genres, including photo noir, landscape and architecture, and portraiture.

Explore the science of human behavior and mental processes, and how psychology is applied in therapeutic and research settings. You’ll learn about individual development, cognition and memory, personality, and more.

Explore the history, foundations, and approaches to helping in the field of social work within a multicultural society. You’ll develop the skillset needed to make a difference on an individual, community, and global level.

Develop an understanding of the changing social world through a focus on the structure of society and social groups. You’ll also be able to get practical experience through service learning opportunities.

Develop a competitive skill set as you gain the knowledge and experience needed to manage sports organizations across private, public, and nonprofit sectors. You’ll explore the complex demands placed on sports organizations, and prepare to offer creative solutions through the study of leadership, marketing, sport’s role in society, sport psychology, health, and nutrition.

Learn techniques for visual storytelling, such as graphic nonfiction and fiction for a range of audiences. You’ll take a combination of courses in creative writing and illustration as you create original works.

Masters 48 Programs

Master of Education

Transform your love of the arts into a career in a nonprofit, hospital, museum, school, or other institution. In this dynamic program, you gain the tools to effect change in the community through art—and become a better artist at the same time.

Create arts-infused curriculum to strengthen student learning. Gain a foundation in the newest research on arts-informed teaching approaches. And prepare to use the arts to engage students with diverse learning styles and needs.

Explore current educational practices, curriculum theory and development, and equity in education. Get a firm foundation in curriculum and instruction; content areas such as arts, science, mathematics, technology; and ELL, math, and literacy.

Use the arts to enhance student learning and to bring out the abilities of PreK-2 children. Learn how to foster creativity in the classroom while building a foundation in early childhood education and a renewed sense of your own artistic talent.

Prepare to nurture the social, emotional, and intellectual development of PreK-2 children. Explore teaching methods that will help you inspire in your students a lifelong love of learning. Gain rich experience and prepare for a rewarding career.

Become a highly trained educator in integrating technology and digital media to support all learners. Take required courses and a variety of elective choices in math, science, ELL, and literacy. A capstone course allows you to put learning into action.

In this master’s degree program, learn to harness the power of digital resources and gain 21st century skills to impact PreK-12 learning. You’ll master current educational technologies and concepts through highly interactive online coursework.

Discover the power of the creative arts in the elementary classroom. Learn inventive ways to motivate all students to reach their full potential. Bring out your own creativity as you gain the skills to inspire your students to love—and succeed at—learning.

Play a vital role in helping grade 1–6 students become critical thinkers who will thrive in an era of change. Explore ways to support children with varied abilities, and emerge from your studies with the skills you need to succeed as a teacher.

Today’s classrooms are becoming increasingly diverse. Learn to teach to all elementary students, including children for whom English is a second language (ESL), in one streamlined program. Graduate with two initial licenses for a competitive edge.

Turn your passion for literacy into a successful, flexible career as an elementary teacher who is also a PreK–12 reading specialist. In this highly-regarded program, you’ll gain a wealth of expertise you can use in a variety of settings and roles.

Prepare to teach elementary students in general education, special education, and inclusive settings. Get skills and experience to teach children of varied abilities, and gain a competitive edge by earning two teacher licenses in one program.

Help students in grades 1–6 become critical thinkers who will thrive in an era of change. Learn how to teach children who do not speak English as a first language. Emerge from your studies with the skills you need to succeed as a teacher.

Expand your content knowledge while gaining strategies for engaging students and preparing them for college and careers. Choose from 8 concentrations leading to initial teacher licensure, and become a highly effective educator of this age group.

Design an advanced degree based on your professional and personal goals. With this on-campus version of our Individually Designed program, you can pursue a specialization or choose a variety of courses from across the university, and take a combination of face-to-face and online courses.

Deepen your understanding of literacy, and learn innovative ways to incorporate reading and writing to help all students communicate effectively. Coursework includes topics like content literacy, literature, assessment, struggling learners, and more.

Learn the vital skills needed for working with middle school students, including the fundamentals of adolescent development, designing appropriate curriculum and learning environments, and classroom management strategies.

Earn two teacher licenses in one streamlined program. Combining skills in English and literacy, prepare to meet the diverse needs of middle school students and develop the vital reading, writing, and communication skills of a new generation of learners.

This interactive program allows those responsible for elementary or middle school science to expand their knowledge of content, assessment, and classroom strategies. Take courses in STEM, earth and space science, mechanics, chemistry, and more.

Make a real difference in students’ lives by turning your passion for literacy into career as a school or district reading specialist. In this highly-regarded program, you’ll gain expertise you can apply to a variety of settings and roles.

This dual-license master’s program prepares you to work with students with both moderate and severe disabilities in school, clinical, and other settings. Fulfill your goal of being a dedicated special education teacher.

Fulfill your goal of being a dedicated special education teacher. This dual-license master’s program prepares you to work with PreK–8 students with a range of moderate and severe disabilities in school, clinical, and other settings.

Be a teacher who can effectively teach students with moderate learning disabilities in both special education and inclusive classrooms. Study instruction, current issues and laws, and how to provide all students with full access to learning.

Become a teacher who can educate students with moderate learning disabilities. Prepare to teach in special education and inclusive classrooms. Study instruction, current issues and laws, and how to provide all students with full access to learning.

Design a master’s program in special education tailored to your unique professional goals. Centered on a chosen concentration area, this non-licensure program is for those who already have or do not need a special education license.

Prepare to educate and encourage students with severe disabilities. Make a meaningful difference for those with complex learning needs by providing access to curriculum, behavior support, skills development, and quality of life options.

Bring your artistic skills to the classroom. Teach PreK-8 or 5-12 students how to think and learn through the creative process. Continue to develop your own work while discovering the latest in classroom practices, research, and art education.

Master of Arts

Develop the understanding, social justice perspective, and clinical expertise needed to become a creative and effective mental health counselor. Gain eligibility for your counseling license by completing a total of 1,300 hours of field experience.

Promote healing through drawing, painting, sculpting, and other media. Learn theoretical and practical approaches to help people gain self-awareness and understanding. Become engaged with individuals, families, and communities to foster well-being.

Learn to use dance and movement to enhance communication and relationships and foster mental and physical wellness in clients. As a dance/movement therapist and mental health counselor, explore how dance can yield fresh insights and facilitate the healing process.

Facilitate change through improvisation and performance. As a licensed mental health counselor, use experiential techniques to help others become spontaneous and flexible in their relationships. Practice in schools, clinics, and community centers.

Learn from pioneers in the field as you train to become a licensed mental health counselor, whose practice integrates multiple areas of expression, including art, dance/movement, drama, and music. Choose from our on-campus or low-residency options.

Starting from the basis of the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—learn a multidimensional approach to counseling that addresses people’s mental, physical, and emotional needs. Complete 1,300 field-training hours, qualifying you for licensure.

Engage others in music making as a means to wellness. Use musical performance to instill confidence and collaboration. Prepare for careers in diverse settings, including at-risk youth, underserved communities, and clinical and educational centers.

Prepare to practice professional counseling and learn how to establish a counselor-client relationship based on trust and empathy. Earn your degree in Cambridge and at off-campus sites in Massachusetts.

Train to excel as a counselor in diverse primary and secondary school environments. Learn to work with children and collaborate with a wide range of individuals, including parents, teachers, administrators, and community members.

Guide those in pain toward health and healing. With 1,300 hours of specialized field training, you’ll develop the mental health counseling expertise needed to address traumatic experiences, especially in the case of young and vulnerable populations.

Build a foundation in scientific theory and research while gaining the practical knowledge to guide people toward transformation. Master skills that enable you to work under supervision or continue on to doctoral study.

Work in school settings with children and adolescents, as well as their families, to help them reach academic and personal goals. In this 48-credit program, become eligible for licensure as a Massachusetts school counselor for grades PreK-8 or 5–12.

Discover how to collaborate with diverse populations and promote communication, mutual respect, and understanding across educational and professional settings. Graduate connected to Lesley University’s global network of professionals and educators and prepared for employment in dynamic settings in the U.S. and abroad.

Deepen your practice of mindfulness and bring its benefits into your professional and personal life. Gain an understanding of the mind-body connection, and discover the science behind contemplative practices. Prepare to help others live more fully.

Master of Fine Arts

Our MFA in Creative Writing nurtures and challenges your creative potential in one of six genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Graphic Novels and Comics, Writing for Stage and Screen, or Writing for Young People.

Immerse in an intimate community of artist/scholars that is redefining photography. Study full-time in Cambridge, MA, and explore traditional and alternative photographic practices, new technology, and contemporary media through one holistic curriculum.

Pursue an MFA that’s rigorous yet individually tailored for the 21st century artist. The interdisciplinary focus of the program allows you to craft a course of study that integrates creative work into your daily life.

Master of Science

Turn your interest in science and the environment into a career in a school, nature center, museum, or alternative setting. Study living systems, sustainability, and the natural world through rural and urban field experiences and practical courses.

Lesley’s online Master of Science in Management program is designed for business professionals looking to hone their skills in leadership, problem-solving, analysis, and more. The curriculum focuses on the latest management approaches and combines theory with real-world case studies that you can apply directly in the workplace. In this program, you’ll complete coursework that’s relevant to today’s diverse workforce. You can also choose to specialize your studies and gain competencies that will put you on the path to continued career success.

License Only 10 Programs

License Only

In this non-degree, license-only program, discover how to support all learners with digital resources that enhance instruction at all grade levels. Gain experience with high-tech tools and a deeper understanding of how students can use technology for learning.

Play a key role in helping students become critical 21st century thinkers. Designed for career changers and others who do not need a master’s degree, this license-only program is a perfect way to prepare for teaching without taking a full program.

Gain valuable skills and credentials for teaching English language learners (ELLs). If you are already teaching, this license-only program gives you new career opportunities and the ability to help students make significant strides.

Gain valuable skills and credentials for teaching English language learners (ELLs). If you are already teaching, this license-only program gives you new career opportunities and the ability to help students make significant strides.

A program for career changers and others who would like a high school teaching license but do not require a Master's degree. Expand your content knowledge while gaining strategies for engaging students and preparing them for college and careers.

Learn the fundamentals of adolescent development, designing appropriate curriculum and learning environments, and classroom management strategies. Turn your area of expertise into a rewarding career working with middle school students.

Positively impact students’ lives as a school or district reading specialist. If you have a master’s degree and an appropriate teaching license, you can get your reading specialist license and move your initial license to the professional level.

Learn to teach students with moderate learning disabilities in both special education and inclusive classrooms. If you have an appropriate classroom license and don’t need a master’s degree, this license-only program may be right for you.

Prepare to teach and inspire students with moderate learning disabilities in PreK–8 special education and inclusive classrooms. If you have an appropriate classroom license and don’t need a master’s degree, this license-only program is for you.

Make a difference in the lives of students with complex learning needs by providing behavior support, skill development, and access to education. If you have an appropriate initial license and don’t need a master’s degree, this program is for you.

PhDs 6 Programs

PhD

Blending online study with weekend on-campus classes, our PhD program for mental health professionals and school counselors prepares you to bring transformative leadership and applied research to mental health programs, schools, and higher education.

Become a leader who can develop forward-thinking approaches for the improvement of K-12 student learning. Designed for working professionals, this PhD program is for both traditional school leaders and other educators who want to facilitate change.

In this low-residency PhD program, you'll develop a deep understanding of social, psychological, and biological conditions that affect the development of humans over the lifespan, and prepare you to better serve individuals of all ages in a variety of academic, social, and governmental contexts.

Design a doctoral program tailored to your professional goals. You’ll have a great deal of flexibility as you structure interdisciplinary study that fits your career objectives and allows you to contribute significantly to your field of interest.

Prepare to take increased leadership responsibility in Jewish educational institutions and organizations. Offered in collaboration with Hebrew College, this program is appropriate for Jewish educators or professionals who aspire to be change agents.

Transform individuals and communities through creativity, scholarship, and collaboration. Enhance your practice and become a leader in expressive therapies through this low residency doctoral program, which interweaves artistic expression and inquiry with a focus on research

Learn the ins and outs of graphic design through hands-on courses and internship experience with our two-year certification program. To be eligible, you must have already completed a bachelor’s degree program.

Graduate Certificate Programs

Through our certificate program, discover how to integrate the healing power of creative expression into the care of patients in hospitals, health centers, nursing homes, and other settings. You’ll develop a range of skills that open new possibilities in healthcare, education, human services, social work, counseling, and more.

Prepare to support and advocate for children with ASD. Explore research and issues, challenges of the criminal justice system, transition to adulthood, and how to focus on individual strengths. Learn to be an ally for people with disabilities.

Learn how to establish helping relationships within your current working environment. In this 12-credit program, gain a foundation in human development and counseling, and then choose elective courses relevant to your professional interests.

Explore the principles and practices of art, dance/movement, drama, music therapy, and more. Discover how these disciplines, known as expressive therapies, can be integrated into clinical work and build on your current professional practice.

Expand skills in K-8 content literacy, teaching writing, literature, linguistics, and applying learning across diverse populations. Learn to use technology to support writers, and take an elective in either TESOL or culturally responsive teaching.

Learn to deliver complex mathematics content, and gain strategies to engage your students as they develop math skills. Study number theory, algebra, geometry, data analysis, calculus, and more, and choose an elective that further boosts your skills.

Join a community of students and faculty who will support and guide you toward integrating mindfulness principles in community settings. Our program is especially useful for health and wellness professionals, social workers, counselors, educators, and those who wish to develop a practice of mindfulness and to share these practices with students, clients, and colleagues.

This hands-on program focuses on how to deliver grades 1-8 science content for effective learning. Coursework includes physical science and STEM, along with electives in relevant areas such as mechanics, life science, robotics, engineering, and more.

Learn to support students with autism so they can reach their full potential. This certificate prepares you to teach in settings from PreK through transition to adulthood. Study aspects of autism from diagnosis to curriculum planning and advocacy.

Provide effective transition planning to special education students ages 14-22 as they prepare for work and further learning. This state-approved endorsement is for licensed special educators and other professionals working with this group.

Build your expertise in psychosocial trauma work and bring new knowledge to your current practice. This 12-credit graduate certificate program provides an overview of trauma theory and practice in relation to specific client populations and topics.

Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study Programs

Designed for professionals, this 36-credit certificate program will help you expand your current skill set, pursue leading-edge research, and enhance your understanding of counseling psychology theory and practice.

If you have an advanced degree in expressive arts therapy or a related field, and wish to gain in-depth training in the principles and practices of different modalities (art, dance, music, and psychodrama), this certificate program is for you.

Grow your literacy skills and qualify for a reading specialist license. Designed for PreK–12 educators with a master’s degree and teaching license, this program prepares you for higher-level positions in curriculum, staff training, or supervision.